Albert Gauci Cunningham, Buġibba
Bills are daylight robbery (1)
I am the only occupant of my apartment which has no more than four rooms with four light bulbs, one of which is energy saving, and all the basic necessities a modern home would have - oven, fridge, a PC and an environmentally-friendly washing machine (on which we are all still awaiting the subsidy promised to us since last August). I don't have roof space which means that solar power is just not possible and with the higher utility bills tumble driers are just out of the question. Like everyone else, I am still not in possession of the five light bulbs promised by the PN. The bill I received states that in the weeks in question, for some of which I was barely at home due to the nature of my job, I used 2,450 units and therefore I am not entitled to any eco-reduction.
What I'd like to know is what exactly does one have to do to get an eco-reduction? Switch the fridge off? Give up chatting on MSN so as to use the PC less? Stop baking pies which take so long to cook in an electric oven? It might sound silly but that's what I was left to think to myself as soon as I received the water and electricity bill which I consider to be daylight robbery, not so much due to the amount but because a good part of the increase will only go to finance waste and inefficiencies!
Well, like all the rest I am resigned to pay this bill and consider it as Lawrence Gonzi's gift to all those who thought that good governance and togetherness would be the PN's landmarks in this legislature. Thanks a million!
8 Comments
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giov DeMartino
Jan 12th 2009, 12:29
We have all got used to daylighty robberies! There was a time when you woke up to find that a house costing thousands of liri and which belonged to you was requisitioned by the government and either given to some friend or given to the MLP to open a kazin. TMERUNI? And we also know of plots exchanged for a building permit. Or of A Villa lent for free to a minister. Daylight robberies? When the price of petrol from 20cents in 1971 to 50 cents as soon as Mintoff won the election.
Nigel Lawrence
Jan 9th 2009, 18:14
I take a meter reading every day and keep the rresults in a spreadsheet.I WILL be paying for I USE-. No playing guessy games for the benefit of the crroks from Marsa.
John L Gatt
Jan 9th 2009, 17:53
Due to the increase of water/elect bills, now I am no longer able to host family members from Australia for their yearly holidays as I can not afford to have them stay with me. They do spend money while here on eating out and touring etc so the Maltese Government will suffer in the long run. I am so very careful as to the use of water/elect but now I am at a loose end as to how to decrease my usage any further. Help
Alyson Mitchell
Jan 9th 2009, 16:26
I agree with Michelle, only pay for what you use and make sure that you keep your actual reading receipts and calculate your bills by taking your own readings when they come in. The estimated usage of electricity for my home is based on the estimated useage and it comes to over 500 euros a MONTH!!! Absolutely ridiculous - do they think we are stupid enough to pay IN ADVANCE for what we MAY use - when I called and asked about the obvious overpayment I would be making in a year they said don't worry you will be in credit for 2010! Ha, I'd rather the money in my bank than theirs. And what about the now 49 US dollars a barrel when will the price to the end user be reduced... errr NEVER! Pay for what you use and NO MORE...
A.Gauci Cunningham
Jan 9th 2009, 14:15
Steve Rogers what can I say??---you're right!! Mea Culpa mea Culpa!! But not again not until 2014 at least!
Regarding the amount of units (since I am no genius in bills) the 2450 is the annual estimate and not what I used in those months which begs the question of whether the eco-reduction is given on a month by month basis or if its just worked out according to the average untis per year or if the units are checked every 6 months or so and any eligibility of an eco-reduction given there!!!
I wonder why all these complications!!!
lgalea
Jan 9th 2009, 12:00
Pay only for the meter rent and then pay for the actual reading.
This is sheer robbery and unlimited by Gonzipn who is doing exactly the opposite of what all the other governments of the world are doing.
Gonzipn is simply skinning the people alive to make good for the general incompetence of his government and EneMalta
Steve Rogers
Jan 9th 2009, 11:13
Dear Albert,
Ask yourself who you voted for during the last election and then say Mea Culpa!
Michelle Wood
Jan 9th 2009, 09:04
Are you sure the bill is an ACTUAL or AN ESTIMATE? I got a ridiculous ESTIMATE myself but after contacting the WSC they told me to wait for the meter to be read some time in January and then I'd only have to pay the ACTUA:L bill.